Handi-Rifle sales....???

[Spanky]

I believe the U.S government should cancel all previous trade agreements; put a huge tarriff on imported goods and force American manufacturing to come home and restore jobs and the economy.  Just my opinion.

Pete

The US government has their hands in too many cookie jars for that to ever happen. Thanks to unions and corporate greed it's cheaper to import goods than to manufacture them here in the US. Unfortunately the US is now in a stranglehold and is dependant on trade goods from other countries. Putting a tariff on those goods would be like shooting ourselves in the foot. Sad but true.



Spanky

[Dixie Dude]

Best way to solve the trade problem is if we have a trade deficit with any nation, put tarriffs on that nations goods, especially Chinas.  Also any country that subsidises their industry like France with Airbus (would help Boeing and Lockheed).  This would level the playing field.  We need titanium from Brazil, maybe coffee, cocoa, maybe bananas.  So we can have a trade agreement with them.  China doesn't let their currency float, if they did the Chinese products would be 30-40% higher, and would make ours more competative.  Now Brazil makes Rossi and Tarus. 

[beaverslayer]

The only reason I bought a Handy is for the primitive weapon season here in MS.  While looking, I found the H&R 35 Whelen at WalMart with the pallet wood stock for $255 plus tax.  Sitting right next to it was a Marlin bolt action in 270 cal for $249.  If it didn't have to be a single shot, with exposed hammer, 35 caliber or larger, of course I would have bought the bolt gun.  I remember when these single shots were around $189 a piece.  I don't remember the price going up until the primitive weapon season here was passed and eveyone made a run on the Handi's.  The season has been going on here for probably 4 or 5 years and I am just now getting one.  I will play with it and see how I like it, but I probably would not have bought one if not for our new season just due to the price increase alone.  Better value is to be had. 

[gcrank1]

Remember too, we cant compare todays 'dollar' with one from 5 or 10 or whatever years ago.
The more that is printed the more whatever on the street is devalued (ie, 'inflation'). In '08, according to the Treasury's own figures, they doubled the money supply and have been pumping it into the system via things like 'quantitative easing'(QE-2). Plain and simple, just because of that we have been seeing, and will continue to see, rising prices.
Just look at what happened to prices since the 1960s and '70s (for those of us who were there). For those who werent, look at the gun prices in any Gun Digest (and weep).
These may be 'the good old days'.........

[Dixie Dude]

Yep, the first gun I ever bought when I was 18 was a Browning Auto 5 Light 12 shotgun for $262.00 from JC Penny's.  I was going to buy a Sears 30-06 which was made from a Mauser Action for $69.00, Ted Williams brand. 

[Troyboy]

 "A totally off topic note:  I believe the U.S government should cancel all previous trade agreements; put a huge tarriff on imported goods and force American manufacturing to come home and restore jobs and the economy."

                                                    AND THAT IS THE TRUTH

[ihookem]

I would love to buy a Handi but the one I bought was not even as accurate as a slug gun @ 50 yds. Even put a few bullets sideways. My kid shot his 243 Super light yesterday. Shot a 5" group @ 50 yds. I gave him my Savage and put 5 shots is 1 1/2" @ 50 yds. He only wants to shoot my gun now. I could take it back to the factory  and complain, pay shipping and maybe get it to shoot half way decent. In todays world of precision Handis should shoot way better than that. It came with a 7.75 lb. trigger too. For 20 bucks more I will buy him a Marlin xs7y  in youth with adjustable trigger, cut the barrel to 18" and have a much better gun.

[KLRKeith]

I paid 237.00 at Wall mart two weeks ago for a .223 with the survivor stock.  I wanted a compact rifle and the hollow stock.  I had a savage edge last year and sold it a week later as it had feed issues and the worst trigger I've had on a gun in years.  The Handi I bought is a nice compact rifle with a nice trigger stock.  I hope they stay around a bit longer.

[trotterlg]

It is all about price, the Rossi's look exactly the same to the 99.9% of the buying public that don't visit this board, and they are half the price.  The H&R Barrel Program is no deal at all when you add the fitting and shipping charges, the QC sucks on new rifles.  They need to look very hard at the marketing plan.  Larry

[LabRat2k3]

I cannot speak for the rest of the country, but I can tell you my personal views on it. I got a handi-rifle in a trade from one of my friends. I had always thought they were neat but had never bought one so I was glad to get one to try out. It is a fine rifle that shoots very good but I don't think that I would buy another for a couple of reasons. First is price, like many have said I can buy a good bolt gun for around the same price. Second, I think it is a bit of a pain to try and find a scope that will work for me on my handi. If I get rings that are tall enough to get the scope to clear the hammer, it is mounted so high I can't get a comfortable cheekweld on the stock, don't have this prob with a bolt gun. Third, the trigger is not so great and no one makes a replacement to make it any better, again most new bolt guns either come with a good trigger or you can get a replacement for about $100. Lastly, I thought that being able to switch barrels would be great, but that is only if they have one in stock that you want, maybe they do, maybe they don't, maybe the guy answering the phone don't know what they have avalible, so just send in your gun with a blank check and hope for the best, no thanks. Also for what it would cost to buy the barrel, shipping both ways, and fitting fees, I can get a barrel for my savage and switch it myself. They just don't hold any advantages for me; cost, convienice, function, or multi-caliber I can do just as good or better. Hope I didn't offend any one with this, I have a handi and enjoy shooting it, but I just never fell in love with it like some have. Thats just me. 

[gcrank1]

Granted, they are not 'the best', not 'the prettiest' and not for everybody. After 30+ rifles in at least as many years, lots of calibers and lots of well regarded vintage designs I have to admit Im surprised how many of these I have. Who would have guessed.......
Mostly my expensive guns are gone, and for the price of one of them I have these goofy H&R's. Funny thing is that I shoot about the same size groups with them that I shot with the high priced stuff (Well, maybe not SO funny). I can swap around stocks, mess with the innards, talk smart on these forums and be in good company with a bunch of like minded people. If I want to sell one, or all, I bet they would go quickly; after all, they are not so expensive that it becomes a specialized market in rarified air.
Even at todays prices, if you shop a bit, or shop here, they arent badly priced compared to most single shots that Im interested in.

[cjrjck]

I own several nice bolt guns and a Ruger No 1, but to me, nothing handles like a Handi. Which is why nearly all of my rifle hunting close to home is with a Handi. Add to that the fact that if I scratch it up, no big deal, it's a Handi. If I bend, crack, or break something, I can get a replacement for that part right here and pretty cheap. I think there will always be a market for the Handi.

[gendoc]

Granted, they are not 'the best', not 'the prettiest' and not for everybody. After 30+ rifles in at least as many years, lots of calibers and lots of well regarded vintage designs I have to admit Im surprised how many of these I have. Who would have guessed.......
Mostly my expensive guns are gone, and for the price of one of them I have these goofy H&R's. Funny thing is that I shoot about the same size groups with them that I shot with the high priced stuff (Well, maybe not SO funny). I can swap around stocks, mess with the innards, talk smart on these forums and be in good company with a bunch of like minded people. If I want to sell one, or all, I bet they would go quickly; after all, they are not so expensive that it becomes a specialized market in rarified air.
Even at todays prices, if you shop a bit, or shop here, they arent badly priced compared to most single shots that Im interested in.

now brent... you saida hole lotta truth there an i agree wif ya 100 persent 

[briannmilewis]

A totally off topic note:  I believe the U.S government should cancel all previous trade agreements; put a huge tarriff on imported goods and force American manufacturing to come home and restore jobs and the economy.  Just my opinion.

Pete

Pete I agre with the sentiment, but that is how the Great Depression got started. Having grown up in Australia (1954-1981) which was very protectionist, things were expensive because every imported product had a tariff to make them sell at the same price as the Australian equivalent item. Since 1981 tariffs have been getting lower and lower to the point of removal, and to prove your point, Australian manufacturing jobs continue to go oversees.

The powers that bee are scratching their heads now in the US wondering why consumer spending has slowed down. Maybe they will realize that you have to have good paying jobs in the US, including manufacturing jobs, to buy stuff! Idiots.

[FLNT4EVR]

Iagree, the Price increases are killing them. An entry level bolt gun with a 4 rnd mag is sometimes even cheaper than a Handy,with a scope no less. Shooters younger than us seem to be drawn to repeaters. Single shot rirfles seem to be the realm of the very young( new shooter) or the very old( been there done that). And that is not where the money is.